California Budget Eliminates Public Library Funding, Inter-Library Loan Programs 2


Glendale stands to lose $70,000 annually from the Public Library Fund, and close to $80,000 in “Transaction-Based Reimbursement” (inter-library loan reimbursements) under the governor’s current budget proposal, according to Library Director Cindy Cleary.

Last year, Glendale libraries loaned 59,776 items to other library jurisdictions and received 48,673 items for Glendale library clients, mostly to and from the Pasadena library system.

The Palos Verdes Library Director published a complete review of the budget cuts to libraries here. Key quotes:

The budget proposal eliminates, with some very minor exceptions, all General Fund funding for public libraries.

…I don’t think anyone expected that libraries would be exempt from the cuts that are being made across all categories of the State budget. That said, the total elimination of ALL State support for local library services is a shock.

Grants for literacy programs, and funds for post-graduate library degrees and management training are slated for cuts as well, said Cleary.

Citizens who value local libraries’ civic, educational, career, and cultural contributions to our society can express concerns to:
The Honorable Carol Liu, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1
State Capitol Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814


2 thoughts on “California Budget Eliminates Public Library Funding, Inter-Library Loan Programs

  • Karen K Zimmerman

    I thought money recaptured from the dismantled CRA programs was to be used for city services such as libraries, schools, police, etc.
    Since the CRAs are funded with our property taxes, this has reduced the amount of money available to libraries, schools, etc.
    Having those property tax dollars re-directed back to city services makes sense during these economic times.

    The question is can our statewide elected officials withstand the pressure from companies/individuals, who are major campaign donors and do not want to lose the CRAs? Is it too much to ask that both houses of the legislature support Governor Brown regarding the CRAs?

  • Editor Post author

    Two more questions: Has the governor or the state guaranteed that CRA funds, if redevelopment agencies are closed, will definitely be sent to cities to be used for libraries, schools, etc.? Or, will those funds just disappear into the black hole of the state deficit?

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